FRANCE: The French Cinémathèque at the Avalon Theatre Presents Django

Django grippingly portrays one chapter in the musician’s eventful life in this semi-fictional biopic.

Django Reinhardt was one of the most brilliant pioneers of European jazz and the father of Gypsy Swing. Reda Kateb (A Prophet) plays the world-famous guitarist in a poignant tale of survival in Occupied France, directed by writer and producer Etienne Comar (Of Gods and Men).

In 1943, guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt delights Parisian audiences with his witty, life-affirming ‘gypsy swing’ music. While many other Romani people are finding themselves the target of racist persecution and being murdered, Django believes himself to be safe due to his popularity – until agents of the Nazi propaganda machine demand that he goes on tour to Germany in order to counteract the influence of ‘negro music’ from the USA. When he decides to refuse, he and his family must escape across the Swiss border.